Relievers for a buck, 2026
Mar 15 2026
This is a fun annual exercise where the focus is not on save situations, but instead we strip out the relievers who are going in auctions and drafts and then apply filters to the relievers who remain. Here, the cutoff is after 125 pitchers (in a 15-team mixed league) have been taken in the most recent two weeks of NFBC drafts. The remaining list would be free in auction or draft (15-team mixed).
That list is then further culled by the following filters: xERA at or below 3.70, WHIP at or below 1.25, K%-BB% at or above 20%. These are the skill sets you want. What we find is a lot of elite leverage relievers (many left-handed) who probably won't get saves but will help ERA/WHIP and holds, for those who value holds. These relievers are...
Almost!
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